Origin
Plano, TX
Afternoon in Plano on Thursday
Local time
4:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plano, TX to Port O'Connor, TX
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
7h 8m
Distance
362.7 mi
584 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$55
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 57m
★
6 AM
7h 8m
8 AM
7h 30m
10 AM
7h 16m
12 PM
7h 14m
3 PM
7h 17m
5 PM
7h 29m
8 PM
7h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plano, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Port O'Connor, TX
Nate Biddle
Trip Overview
This 362.7-mile drive from Plano, TX, to Port O'Connor, TX, is a manageable one-day adventure, taking approximately 7 hours and 8 minutes to complete. Primarily following US 77 and the South R L Thornton Freeway, the route is heavily highway-focused, with 83% of it being on major roadways. With an estimated fuel cost of $55 and a plan for 2 stops, this trip offers a straightforward journey across the Great Plains region of Texas. It's a practical option for those looking to reach the coast without a multi-day commitment, allowing for flexibility in departure times and pacing.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
181.3 miles from Plano, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 20m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 8m. Total distance: 362.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 8m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this route, with 83% of the journey on main roads like US 77 and South R L Thornton Freeway. The character of the drive is largely defined by these efficient roadways, designed for covering distance. You'll encounter one significant stretch of uninterrupted driving, lasting 120.2 miles on US 77, so be prepared for extended periods on this particular highway. While primarily a fast-paced journey, the transition between these main arteries is smooth, maintaining a consistent driving experience for most of the 7-hour trip.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 42 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 77 is the longest continuous segment at about 120.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 77 and South R L Thornton Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Central Expressway.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 30 significant decision points across 362.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Central Expressway): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.4 miles (North Pearl Expressway): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 30 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Central Expressway
Turn left onto Central Expressway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
17.5 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 284C
Toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
6
18.4 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
North Pearl Expressway
Turn left onto North Pearl Expressway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
9
19.7 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
7
19.7 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E South: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward I 35E South: Waco
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Plano, TX and Port O'Connor, TX, road signs point toward Denton, Waco, Dallas Zoo and Loop 396.
Denton
19.5 mi in
|
~23m
Waco
19.7 mi in
|
~24m
Dallas Zoo
20.6 mi in
|
~25m
|
via I 35E
Loop 396
114.2 mi in
|
~2h 2m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 77 | 120.2 mi | 2h 20m |
| South R L Thornton Freeway | 89.9 mi | 1h 32m |
| United States Highway 77 | 44.5 mi | 53m |
| Robinson Drive | 29.5 mi | 33m |
| Port Lavaca Drive | 21.3 mi | 25m |
| Central Expressway | 16.8 mi | 18m |
| FM 1289 | 11.2 mi | 19m |
| State Highway 185 East | 6.9 mi | 12m |
Longest stretch:
US 77
— 120.2 mi, about 2h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plano, TX and Port O'Connor, TX.
1
Start on East 15th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 15th Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn left onto Central Expressway
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Central Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward US 75 South
4
Merge onto US 75
17 mi
·
17 min
·
Central Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
501 ft
·
12 sec
Exit 284C
Toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
Use the slight left lane.
6
Continue on North Central Expressway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Turn right onto Elm Street
304 ft
·
10 sec
·
Elm Street
8
Turn left onto North Pearl Expressway
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
North Pearl Expressway
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto Young Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Young Street
10
Turn left onto South Harwood Street
315 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Harwood Street
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto Canton Street
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Canton Street
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 30 West
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton
14
Keep slight left at fork
221 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 35E South: Waco
Use the left / right lanes.
16
Continue on I 35E
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
17
Continue on I 35E
89 mi
·
1 hr 31 min
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
Exit 426
Toward Dallas Zoo
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 35; US 77
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 333A
Toward Loop 396
20
Turn straight onto South Jack Kultgen Expressway
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
21
Turn left onto Loop 396
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
South Valley Mills Drive
22
Enter roundabout onto Robinson Drive
125 ft
·
5 sec
·
Robinson Drive
23
Continue on Robinson Drive
29 mi
·
33 min
·
Robinson Drive
Use the straight / left lanes.
24
Continue on US 77
19 mi
·
21 min
·
US 77
25
Turn left onto US 77; US 190; TX 36
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
East 4th Street
26
Continue on US 77; US 190; TX 36
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Kemp Street
27
Continue on US 77; US 190; TX 36
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
East 1st Street
28
Take the exit onto US 77
101 mi
·
1 hr 58 min
·
US 77
29
Turn right onto US 77; US 90 Alt
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
·
West 4th Street
30
Continue on US 77; US 90 Alt
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
Fairwinds Street
31
Turn left onto US 77
45 mi
·
53 min
·
United States Highway 77
Use the straight / left lanes.
32
Turn left onto US 87
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
East Goodwin Avenue
Use the left lane.
33
Continue on US 87
21 mi
·
25 min
·
Port Lavaca Drive
34
Keep slight left at fork onto US 87
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
US 87
35
Turn right onto FM 1090
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Alcoa Drive
36
Turn right onto TX 238
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
West Austin Street
37
Continue on TX 238
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
TX 238
38
Turn left onto FM 1289
11 mi
·
19 min
·
FM 1289
39
At end of road, turn left onto TX 185
6.9 mi
·
12 min
·
State Highway 185 East
40
Continue on TX 185
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Adams Avenue
41
Turn right onto TX 185
91 ft
·
2 sec
·
2nd Street
42
Arrive at destination
TX 185
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour duration, starting your trip from Plano early in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and allow ample time for your two planned stops. The longest stretch without a major road change is over 120 miles, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly, perhaps around the halfway point. With a fuel cost estimated at $55, keeping an eye on your gauge is a good idea, especially during the longer stretches on US 77. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, so you have the advantage of flexibility; however, ensure you're comfortable with extended highway driving.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 181.3 miles from Plano, TX, or about 3h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 120.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 181.3 miles or 3h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port O'Connor, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Plano, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Plano, TX
This is one driving day of about 362.7 miles and 7h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Plano, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 77 for about 120.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 181.3 mi from Plano, TX · 3h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
181 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 181.3 miles from Plano, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 77 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 120.2 miles.
Arriving in Port O'Connor, TX
The final approach into Port O'Connor, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Port O'Connor, TX.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.80 one way
$109.61 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
127 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $59.99 | $119.98 |
| premium | $4.54 | $64.76 | $129.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $80.08 | $160.16 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.40
Central Expressway
(17.5 mi)
$1.40
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 126.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 108.8 | 1 | $38.08 | $17.41 |
| Efficient EV | 90.7 | 1 | $31.74 | $14.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 145.1 | 1 | $50.78 | $23.21 |
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
42 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Port O'Connor, TX
Afternoon in Port O'Connor on Thursday
Local time
4:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
13 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 8m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Plano, TX to Port O'Connor, TX covers 362.7 miles and takes about 7h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 77, South R L Thornton Freeway, United States Highway 77. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 181.3 miles from Plano, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $54.80 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 30 significant decision points across 362.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Central Expressway): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.4 miles (North Pearl Expressway): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Plano, TX and Port O'Connor, TX, road signs point toward Denton, Waco, Dallas Zoo and Loop 396.
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